The Amazonian Architecture and Challenges Faced in Socio-Spatial Transformation Processes—Shuar and Achuar, Ecuador

This article explores the ties between vernacular architecture, culture and identity in a context of sociocultural change in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The text addresses the loss of a collective cultural identity from a historical, socio-spatial and descriptive perspective. Beliefs and traditions act a...

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Main Authors: David Eduardo Morocho Jaramillo, Camilla Mileto, Fernando Vegas López-Manzanares
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-03-01
Series:Buildings
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/3/842
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author David Eduardo Morocho Jaramillo
Camilla Mileto
Fernando Vegas López-Manzanares
author_facet David Eduardo Morocho Jaramillo
Camilla Mileto
Fernando Vegas López-Manzanares
author_sort David Eduardo Morocho Jaramillo
collection DOAJ
description This article explores the ties between vernacular architecture, culture and identity in a context of sociocultural change in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The text addresses the loss of a collective cultural identity from a historical, socio-spatial and descriptive perspective. Beliefs and traditions act as a “social glue“ uniting societies around common values, goals and norms, whose disappearance could cause this society to veer off course or to even become fragmented. Fieldwork carried out further supports these data, showcasing cultural changes which are worsened by globalization and contribute to the erosion of common beliefs. Although challenging, this also provides the opportunity to reassess values in search of new forms of local identity and significance. The article highlights the fragmentation between tradition and the beliefs concerning settlements which had been introduced by colonization through an understanding of construction processes and their spatial logic. The transformation of socio-spatial dynamics highlights the challenges faced by the Amazon, as well as attempts to strike a balance between tradition and progresses, without neglecting environmental culture or integrity due to the pressures of globalization. Therefore, understanding the different relationship systems found within a given ecosystem can provide clues on how to aid their preservation.
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spelling doaj.art-d1b122dde81942dd9f1c063a2e9218142024-03-27T13:29:42ZengMDPI AGBuildings2075-53092024-03-0114384210.3390/buildings14030842The Amazonian Architecture and Challenges Faced in Socio-Spatial Transformation Processes—Shuar and Achuar, EcuadorDavid Eduardo Morocho Jaramillo0Camilla Mileto1Fernando Vegas López-Manzanares2Centro de Investigación en Arquitectura, Patrimonio y Gestión para el Desarrollo Sostenible (PEGASO), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, SpainCentro de Investigación en Arquitectura, Patrimonio y Gestión para el Desarrollo Sostenible (PEGASO), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, SpainCentro de Investigación en Arquitectura, Patrimonio y Gestión para el Desarrollo Sostenible (PEGASO), Universitat Politècnica de València, 46022 Valencia, SpainThis article explores the ties between vernacular architecture, culture and identity in a context of sociocultural change in the Ecuadorian Amazon. The text addresses the loss of a collective cultural identity from a historical, socio-spatial and descriptive perspective. Beliefs and traditions act as a “social glue“ uniting societies around common values, goals and norms, whose disappearance could cause this society to veer off course or to even become fragmented. Fieldwork carried out further supports these data, showcasing cultural changes which are worsened by globalization and contribute to the erosion of common beliefs. Although challenging, this also provides the opportunity to reassess values in search of new forms of local identity and significance. The article highlights the fragmentation between tradition and the beliefs concerning settlements which had been introduced by colonization through an understanding of construction processes and their spatial logic. The transformation of socio-spatial dynamics highlights the challenges faced by the Amazon, as well as attempts to strike a balance between tradition and progresses, without neglecting environmental culture or integrity due to the pressures of globalization. Therefore, understanding the different relationship systems found within a given ecosystem can provide clues on how to aid their preservation.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/3/842AmazonEcuadorAénts ChichamShuarAchuarsettlements transformation
spellingShingle David Eduardo Morocho Jaramillo
Camilla Mileto
Fernando Vegas López-Manzanares
The Amazonian Architecture and Challenges Faced in Socio-Spatial Transformation Processes—Shuar and Achuar, Ecuador
Buildings
Amazon
Ecuador
Aénts Chicham
Shuar
Achuar
settlements transformation
title The Amazonian Architecture and Challenges Faced in Socio-Spatial Transformation Processes—Shuar and Achuar, Ecuador
title_full The Amazonian Architecture and Challenges Faced in Socio-Spatial Transformation Processes—Shuar and Achuar, Ecuador
title_fullStr The Amazonian Architecture and Challenges Faced in Socio-Spatial Transformation Processes—Shuar and Achuar, Ecuador
title_full_unstemmed The Amazonian Architecture and Challenges Faced in Socio-Spatial Transformation Processes—Shuar and Achuar, Ecuador
title_short The Amazonian Architecture and Challenges Faced in Socio-Spatial Transformation Processes—Shuar and Achuar, Ecuador
title_sort amazonian architecture and challenges faced in socio spatial transformation processes shuar and achuar ecuador
topic Amazon
Ecuador
Aénts Chicham
Shuar
Achuar
settlements transformation
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-5309/14/3/842
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